DAY 225 - 30/09/2010 - Overshot Hill Nature Reserve, WA & Ravensthorpe, WA

Checked into the Ravensthorpe Caravan Park, packed a picnic lunch and headed off for Hyden to see Wave Rock.

During our picnic lunch I had a turn on Alicia's ripstix and had a big stack. The board flew out from underneath and I fell right on my tail bone onto concrete. I was very sore and we had at least a couple of kms of walking to do today. That'll teach me. Never again.

Wave Rock was pretty awesome and glad we came here. The girls tried to climb as far as they could.

A short walk from Wave Rock is Hyppo's Yawn. Which is a giant rock formation which resembles a hyppo yawning, hence the name.

We came across an echidna along the walking trail.

The top of Wave Rock

DAY 224 - 29/09/2010 - Albany, WA & Overshot Hill Nature Reserve, WA

Its a beautiful spring day and we drove from Albany to Ravensthorpe and are camping at a free stay 9km North of Ravensthorpe. We are going to Hyden tomorrow to see Wave Rock.

We met some really nice people here who shared their camp fire and bbq plate with us.

Marshmellows by campfire.

Alicia is pretty excited to be going to see Wave Rock tomorrow. Its a 400km round trip from here and we plan to be there and back in one day.

DAY 223 - 28/09/2010 - Cozy Corner East, WA & Albany, WA

We left Cozy Corner and drove straight to Albany.

Replica of tall ship Brig Amity which carried Albany's first settlers.

We visited the Anzac Memorial on top of Mount Clarence. The 180 degree views from up here were beautiful.

Albany was selected as the departure point for ANZAC troops and a memorial was placed here in their honour. We took turns climbing the stairs to view the memorial statue while the other stayed with the car and van. Our friends car was broken into a couple of weeks ago and apparently it is a common occurrence in this carpark and I didn't want it to happen to us.

We check into our accommodation and are staying at the Big4 park, Albany Gardens Holiday Park. Its a family friendly park. The facilites are fantastic and there are children playing everywhere. While we set up the van the girls are off to the playground to play. I prepared some scones for lunch and also manage to get a couple of loads of washing done and hung out.

After lunch we head off again to do some more sight seeing.

Our intention was to visit the old Whaling Station and while on our way we came across a sign, "Natural Bridge". So we took the turn off, drove a little bit then parked the car in the car park. We follow the pathway and the signs directing us to the Natural Bridge and the Gap and couldn't believe our eyes. It reminded me of the scenery from the Great Ocean Road. Very impressive.

The Gap

More Gap shots

Views from the Gap.

More views.

Natural Bridge

We drove to the whaling station, parked the car and had every intention to still visit it but decided to walk along the nearby jetty first.

The old whaling ship, Cheynes IV

Frenchman Bay near the whaling station.

This is where we caught sight of a pod of Southern Right whales playing in the water. They were about 30 metres away initially but then seemed to be coming closer. I think we sat there for nearly 2 hours watching them and enjoying the show.

It got too late to go into the whaling station so we left and went for a cruise to Middleton Beach and Emu Point. Great views along the way.

Off to Woolys for a very quick grocery shop then home for a bbq.

DAY 222 - 27/09/2010 - Shannon National Park, WA & Cozy Corner East, WA

It rained heavily all night last night causing us to have a terrible sleep. We had gone to bed at 8pm hoping to have a good catch up sleep but that wasn't to be. By 1.30am we had given up trying and Waz and I got up for a hot milo and a movie. The rain finally subsided so back to bed.

Up later than we wanted but managed to be back on the road by 8.30am and we bee lined for the town of Walpole.

We arrive in Walpole and visit the visitor centre and the bakery for some morning tea. We unhitch the van and leave it in the visitor centre carpark and head up to the Hilltop Lookout to see the view and to visit the Giant Tingle Tree which is supposed to be the biggest tree in the world.

The views from Hilltop lookout.

Its a 1km loop walk to the Giant Tingle Tree from the carpark. The base of this giant is huge but the majority of the height of the tree was damaged during the 1951 bushfires. These fires also hollowed out the tree but it didn't destroy the root system and it continues to grow. Very bizarre but a true story. The loop walk amongst the tingle trees would have been more enjoyable but the mozzies were out in force causing us to walk quickly to get back to the protection of the car.

Back to the visitor centre to pick up the van.

The Valley of the Giants is our next destination. This attraction is located in the next town over called Nornalup.

We pay the entry fee and do the tree top walk. Pretty ordinary experience and a waste of money and time really. At least we can say we did it but probably could of done without it. The highlight of this visit is the shaking bridge. The kids were trying to shake the bridge harder purely out of boredom and some oldies at the other end felt the vibrations and held on for dear life. Sorry oldies but it was quite funny.

We continue along the South Coast Highway and then we took the William Bay Rd turn off to see Elephant Rocks. Huge smooth boulders randomly jutting out of the water. I assume is where it gets its name as the boulders are massive, grey in colour and resemble a heard of elephants.

The Elephant Rocks. The photo doesn't do it justice.

We arrive in Denmark. A pretty town with a river running through it. We stop off at the park for lunch and the girls have a play.

In Denmark.

We don't quite make it as far as Albany. Its a little over 3pm and we set up camp by the beach, behind the dunes and low lined trees at a place called Cozy Corner East.

Cozy Corner East WA

Catching up on our journals.

We walk down to the beach and the water looks rough and its pretty windy and cold so we retreat back to the van and take shelter by the trees again.

DAY 221 - 26/09/2010 - Margaret River, WA & Shannon National Park, WA

We sadly leave our friends, again, and continue our journey.

We stop in Pemberton for some lunch. Pies and sausage rolls from the local bakery. Which may I add, were delicious.

Pemberton is a pretty town. Lush and green, surrounded by national parks and its the home of the Gloucester Tree. This tree is a giant Karri tree measuring 61m from the ground and people can climb to the top. Warren, Alicia and Taylah do the climb while Lilly and I wait below.

 

And off they go......

Lilly pretending to do the climb.

Back on the road again heading East towards Walpole.



We decide to call it a day, 67km before Walpole and set up camp in the Shannon National Park.

Here's where we camp tonight.

Getting some school work done.

Helping Dad

Ready for our potato in a jacket.